All Along the Watchtower Part 2

North Cove, Washington

The lights in the house flickered and Castiel heard the Impala pull up outside. He went downstairs to investigate, armed with his angel blade.

"Dean?" his brows furrowed.

"Cas, is this place warded?" Sam questioned with a sense of urgency.

"Yes, heavily," Castiel confirmed.

"Heavy enough to stop Lucifer?" Angela asked.

"Lucifer?" Castiel's brows shot up.

"He could be right behind us," Mary replied.

"I don't… What are you doing here?" Castiel asked confusedly.

"Saving your ass." Dean snapped.

"You and Kelly just taking off was a stupid move," Sam reprimanded. "But there's no way we're letting Lucifer get his hands on that kid. It ain't happening."

"Look, Sam's right, okay?" Dean agreed. "We'll work through our crap. We always do. But right now, we are here to get you, get Kelly, and get gone."

"She can't be moved. She's having a—

Kelly groaned loudly in pain from upstairs.

"Mary and I will go check on her," Angela told everyone as she picked up Grace.

"How much time do we have?" Castiel asked as Mary and Angela walked upstairs.

"We don't know." Sam sighed.

"Hey, if he shows, can you flame on again? Can you torch Lucifer like you did Dagon?" Dean asked.

"I don't know. No, that wasn't me." Castiel answered. "That was the child. And in case you haven't noticed, he's a little busy."

Dean bent down and grasped his injured knee, hissing in pain. "Aah. Son of a bitch."

"Here, Dean," Castiel walked towards him.

"Mm."

"Let me." Castiel tapped Dean's forehead and healed him.

Dean chuckled lightly. "Thanks."

"All right, we should double-check the warding," Sam suggested as he walked toward the back door.

"Wait," Castiel turned to follow him.

"Right. So listen, if we, uh…" Sam stepped out the back door and saw the golden rift. "Cas? What is that?"

"It's a tear in space and time." He answered.

"Uh, and that means?" Robert asked.

"It's a doorway to another world."

"Anoth—What, like Narnia?" Dean questioned.

"No." Castiel shook his head. "No, through there it's Earth, but… but different. It's a—It's an alternate reality."

"So, it's a Bizzaro world?" Sam's brows creased. "Or—or like the place we got zapped to where we were, uh, uh, actors on a TV show?"

"Oh, yeah. The supernatural wasn't real." Dean recalled.

"Yeah."

"Yeah. And you were Polish. And I was married to Angie." Dean added.

"R-right," Sam muttered.

"What?" Robert's brows furrowed.

"Long story," Dean replied.

"Wait, Cas, how did this get here?" Sam asked the angel.

"Well, the child being born, his power, it seems to be puncturing the fabric of our universe."

"Awesome," Dean muttered sarcastically.

"Yeah." Sam scoffed. "And what exactly is on the other side?"

"You don't wanna know," Castiel answered grimly.

"Probably." Dean nodded in agreement. "But we need to."

Castiel relented and led them through the rift into the alternate universe.

~/~\~

Alternate World

"Whoa," Sam looked around the gray, desolate land.

"Cas, what is this?" Dean asked.

"As I said, it's—it's Earth." He answered. "But this Earth is locked in eternal war between Heaven and Hell. There are armies of angels fighting hoards of demons, and the few humans that remain are caught in between."

"How do you know that?" Robert asked.

"A friend told me."

"Oh, good," Dean muttered. "Now you're makin' friends? That's… All right, on a scale of 1 to 10, how bad is this?"

"I don't know." Sam scoffed. "I gotta say, a, uh, hole in reality to a bombed-out Apocalypse world? I'm gonna go with 11."

"Sounds right." Dean nodded.

"You don't have to worry," Castiel assured. "The child, he opened this door. He'll close it."

"You sure about that?" Dean quirked a brow.

"I have faith."

"Really? In your unborn baby-God?" Dean rolled his eyes.

"Yes." Castiel nodded.

"Well, then, you're a dumbass," Dean argued as a hooded figure moved through the mist toward them.

Sam pulled out his gun. "Guys. Guys!"

"Hey! Hands in the air!" Robert warned.

"No. Don't." Castiel stopped them as the figure removed the scarf covering his face.

Sam's eyes widened in disbelief. "Bobby?"

"Do I know you?" Bobby eyed them suspiciously.

"Bobby… Sam. Dean. Cas." Sam's brows furrowed.

"Uh-huh. You say that like it's supposed to mean something to me, but… naw."

"Sam, this is Bobby, but it's not your B—

"Bobby, it's us." Dean interrupted. "Sam and Dean Winchester."

"The only Winchester I ever heard of was John," Bobby replied.

"Yeah." Sam nodded. "John Winchester, our father."

"Doubt it." Bobby scoffed. "He's dead. Been dead over 40 years now. Only reason I know about him is this hunter I ran with, Mary Campbell. You get a few pints of shine in her, and she always told the same story about the man she loved—John Winchester. Azazel killed her about 10 years ago."

"Cas, what the hell is this?" Sam demanded.

"This is a world where you were never born." He answered. "It's a world you never saved."

~/~\~

North Cove, Washington

Kelly was lying in her bed, sweating and breathing heavily.

"Aah!" she cried out as a contraction ripped through her body.

"Okay. I think they're less than five minutes apart now." Angela murmured.

"It's almost time," Mary added gently. "How you doin'?"

"I'm dying." Kelly's voice broke.

"We know." Angela stroke Kelly's hair comfortingly.

"But that's okay," Kelly smiled sadly. "'Cause wouldn't you die for your kids?"

Mary nodded and Angela looked at Grace and put a hand on her own pregnant belly.

"Yeah." The two women murmured in understanding.

~/~\~

Apocalypse World

"When this…" Bobby looked at the rift. "Whatever opened up, all sorts'a alarms went off back at my place. I got here just in time to see your boy get ambushed by a tempter demon."

"A what?" Robert frowned.

"It's, um… black eyes, pointed teeth, horns." Castiel informed.

"Wait a second," Sam started. "Demons have horns now?"

"Whole new world, Sam," Dean replied.

"Usually I gun down flyboys on sight. But, uh, he looked… different." Bobby eyed Castiel. "Wasn't wearing a necklace made out of baby ears, for one thing."

"We got to talking about where I came from and our two worlds," Castiel added.

"From what he says, pretty much peaches and cream on your side," Bobby noted.

"Oh, I wouldn't say that. It's better than this." Dean looked around.

"Well, I don't know." Bobby shrugged. "Ain't so bad here, if you like killing angels."

"And you do?" Robert asked.

"It's my hobby and my passion," Bobby answered. "So… I figured, it's only a matter of time before the dicks upstairs get wind'a this. And when they show… me and Rufus go to work." He held up his gun. "He's loaded with a hundred rounds, cast from old angel blades."

"Wait, angel-killing bullets? Awesome." Dean smirked, receiving a glare from Castiel.

~/~\~

North Cove, Washington

Kelly sobbed in pain as another contraction ripped through her body and she gripped each of Mary and Angela's hands.

~/~\~

Sam, Dean, Castiel, and Robert returned to their world through the rift.

"Are you all right?" Castiel asked.

"No, Cas. Pretty far from all right." Dean answered. "I mean, we've got Lucifer on this side, we've got Mad Max World on that side. I mean, yeah, we've been down before, but this? I-I mean, I don't even know where to start." He turned around and groaned when Crowley appeared. "Oh, come on!"

"Hello, boys. Again."

Sam's brows furrowed. "Wait a second, how the hell did you—

Crowley held up his bloody, bandaged hand. "I improvised. Lucky I did. Turns out I'm the answer to all your problems."

~/~\~

Mary and Angela each held Kelly's hands when Castiel knocked on the door.

"May I speak with her?" he asked.

"Sure." Angela nodded.

"Angie. Mary." Kelly looked at the women, a twinge of fear in her eyes.

"We'll be back," Mary assured.

"Okay." Kelly nodded.

Mary and Angela stood up, and Angela picked up Grace as they walked out of the room.

"Cas… what's wrong?" Kelly asked.

~/~\~

Downstairs, Dean readied their weapons and handed Sam and Robert their guns.

"You guys ready?" Dean asked.

"Nope," Sam replied honestly. "When has that ever stopped us?"

"Yeah." Dean agreed. "You know, Cas has faith in this kid."

"Mm." Sam hummed.

"I hope he's right. But me? I have faith in us. You, me, Angie, Mom, Robert, Cas. And Crowley. Sometimes."

"Mm." Robert chuckled.

"This is gonna work. It has to." Dean muttered.

~/~\~

Lucifer sauntered up to Sam, Dean, Castiel, and Robert.

"Well… this is a fun surprise. I gotta hand it to you guys. You never give up, even when you should. Even when it would be so stupid not to."

"Look, whatever you're planning on doing, Chuck… God will stop you, just like he did last time." Sam glared.

"You're right. What should I do? Oh, God! Don't strike me dead!" Lucifer mocked. "Come on, Sam. You sound like a virgin in Jesus camp. 'We can't. God is watching.' No. Chuck 'walked.' He's gone."

"So, you're just gonna smash his toys?" Robert scoffed.

"Exactly," Lucifer nodded. "'Cause every time I look at this sad trash fire of a world, you know what I keep thinking? I could do so much better."

"So, Apocalypse, take two," Dean replied. "That's your plan?"

"When in doubt, go with the classics." Lucifer shrugged. "That's always what I say. Well, boys, enough with the foreplay. Let's go this."

"See you on the other side, boys," Dean muttered.

Castiel charged at Lucifer with his angel blade, but Lucifer batted him aside easily.

"Aah!" Castiel yelled in pain.

"Well, that worked," Lucifer commented sarcastically.

Sam, Dean, and Robert looked at Castiel, then at each other, then took off running around toward the back of the house.

"Mature. Real mature!" Lucifer scoffed as he strolled around the house after them. "You guys? I really want to enjoy this. Really wanna savor just ripping you apart, getting' all up in there, and getting' all gooey. But, you know, little slugger's almost here and, uh… Well, I'm on the clock."

Lucifer saw Sam, Dean, and Robert standing by the rift and stopped. Dean reached out and touched the rift, and the three of them disappeared into the alternate world.

"Interesting," Lucifer muttered as he followed them.

~/~\~

Alternate World

"Mm. Nice." Lucifer muttered as he looked around.

"You wanted the Apocalypse?" Sam asked from behind him. "You got it."

Lucifer turned around to see Sam and Robert. "Sammy. Robert. Hey. Where's Dean?"

"Right here," Dean replied, pointing Bobby's angel killing gun at Lucifer.

Lucifer turned around and smirked. "Ooh. Sweet toy."

"Yeah, I got it off an old—new pals of mine. See, we have this bet, see if it works against an archangel. So… say hello to my little friend."

Dean opened fire on Lucifer while Sam and Robert ran off to where Crowley was hidden behind a rock, crafting a spell.

"Took you long enough." Crowley sassed.

"Not now, Crowley. Come on." Sam rushed.

"Yeah, baby! Come on!" Dean yelled as he continued shooting Lucifer before his gun finally clicked empty.

"We do this ritual, we seal that rift, and we lock the Devil in this godforsaken place. That's the plan, remember?" Crowley reminded. "Two birds, one spell."

"Right, right. Just hurry." Robert pressed.

Sam peeked over the rock to see Lucifer advance on Dean, grab him, and start hitting him.

"You lose," Lucifer smirked.

Sam crouched back down to help with the spell. "Uh, Dead Sea brine, uh, mercury, lamb's blood, holy oil. Here we go. That's the last of it. That's everything."

"No, it's not." Crowley sighed.

"What?" Robert frowned.

"If we wanna seal that rip, we need one more minor ingredient."

"What?" Sam pressed.

"A life," Crowley answered.

"Ah, I could do this all day." Lucifer kicked Dean. "You make such funny noises."

Suddenly, Lucifer was flung away from Dean by an invisible force.

"Surprise." Crowley greeted.

"Crowley!" Lucifer laughed as Sam and Robert rushed over to help Dean up and pull him toward the rift. "You sneaky little… So, I guess I get to kill you twice, huh, Crowley?"

"I doubt it." Crowley scoffed.

"Oh, no, no. You had your chance. You could've put me back in the Cage, but… you had to make it personal, didn't you?"

Sam, Dean, and Robert stopped by the rift and watched Crowley and Lucifer.

"You're right." Crowley pursed his lips. "It is personal. You humiliated me. I… I hate you. Deeply. Truly. I'm gonna enjoy wiping that smug, self-satisfied look off your face. Personally."

"You mean… this one?" Lucifer grinned smugly as Crowley let his angel blade drop into his hand. "Come on, Crowley. You know whatever you try, you're gonna lose."

"You're right." Crowley nodded as he turned to Sam, Dean, and Robert. "Bye, boys."

Crowley stabbed himself with his angel blade and fell to the ground, dead. Sam, Dean, and Robert watched, stunned, as Castiel barged through the rift and pushed past them.

"Cas?" Dean asked worriedly.

"No, come on. Come on!" Robert urged.

"Cas!" Dean fought against them. "Cas! Cas!"

"No, no, no, no, no, no! We gotta go! We gotta go!" Sam yelled.

Dean tried to stop Castiel, but he advanced on Lucifer with his blade drawn, while Sam and Robert dragged Dean back through the rift.

~/~\~

North Cove, Washington

Kelly started delivering the baby and began to glow.

"I love you." She whispered.

Suddenly, there was an explosion of golden light that knocked Mary and Angela across the room.

"Mommy! Grandma!" Grace cried.

~/~\~

Sam, Dean, and Robert got to their feet. Dean looked at the fading rift in shock, when Castiel came back through.

"Cas," Sam smiled in relief.

The rift flared behind Castiel, and an angel blade pierced his chest from behind.

"No!" Dean cried out, his eyes widening.

Castiel fell to the ground, revealing Lucifer standing behind them, holding the bloodied angel blade. Robert took his own angel blade and lunged at Lucifer. However, Lucifer grabbed Robert and threw him through the rift.

"Robert!" Sam yelled.

"That was fun," Lucifer smirked. "Seriously guys, points for trying. Super impressed, but, uh… playtime's over."

"Get away from them." Mary glared as she, Angela, and Grace walked up.

"Mary, right?" Lucifer asked. "Yeah, I've heard about you. You, uh, are certainly living up to the hype. Look, seriously, I just wanted to say thank you for everything. I owe ya, kid."

Behind her back, Mary activated the angelic brass knuckles and took a step toward Lucifer.

"Mom," Sam stopped her. "Mom, Mom."

"I love you." She whispered before punching Lucifer in the face.

"Cute." He chuckled. "Is that all you got, mama?"

Mary punched him again, and again, and he dropped the angel blade beside Castiel's body. She continued punching him, each blow lighting up the red grace beneath his skin. She punched him back toward the rift, and as he was about to fall through, he grabbed her arm and pulled her with him.

"Mom!" Dean cried out as the rift flared brightly before it disappeared altogether. "Mom, Mom! No!"

~/~\~

Angela looked around, frowning when she noticed Robert wasn't around. "Sammy, where's Dad?"

Sam shook himself from his frozen state and looked at his wife sadly. "Baby, I-I'm sorry. Lucifer, he… he threw him into the Apocalypse world."

"What?" Angela's voice cracked. "No, no—

"I'm sorry, baby. I'm so sorry." Sam hugged his wife tightly as she sobbed.

"Mommy, Unca Cas…" Grace tugged on Angela's sleeve.

Angela looked up and saw Castiel's body. She let out a pained cry and her body shook as she sobbed. Meanwhile, Dean looked from the vanished rift over to Castiel.

"No!" he yelled. "No. No, no, no, no, no."

Sam noticed a glowing, flickering light coming from inside the house. "Baby, stay here. Stay here, I'm gonna be right back. I promise."

"Sam—

She couldn't finish before Sam pulled away and ran towards the house. Angela practically crumbled to the ground, sobbing violently. Grace hugged her mother, sniffling quietly.

Dean stood over Castiel, then dropped to his knees sadly, almost not believing that he was dead.

~/~\~

Sam walked into Kelly's room and saw her body on the bed. He closed her eyes and froze when he heard a noise coming from the nursery. He followed scorched footprints and noticed someone sitting in the corner in the dark, their eyes glowing ominously golden.

A/N: Hey, guys, I hope you liked this chapter! I can't believe it's the last one of this installment. I can't wait for you guys to read the next installment, The Broken World, coming soon! Love y'all, xoxo :)

~Emily